Mandir Name Plate: What to Write, Symbols & Vastu Guide

Mandir Name Plate: What to Write, Symbols & Placement

A practical, respectful guide to choosing, writing and placing a mandir name plate for your home. Written to help you decide, not to sell you. Last reviewed June 2026.

⏱️ The quick answer

A mandir name plate (also called a temple name board or pooja name plate) is a small engraved plaque placed above or beside a home temple, or on the pooja-room door. Most people engrave their family name (for example "Sharma Parivar"), a deity's name, or a short sacred word like "Om", "Shubh Labh" or "Jai Shri Krishna". Popular symbols are Om (ॐ), Swastik, Kalash, Diya and the lotus. Common materials are brass, wood, acrylic, marble and Corian. As per Vastu, place it on a North or East-facing wall or door — more on direction here.

On this page

1. What a mandir name plate is — and why people add one

A mandir name plate is a small engraved or printed plaque set above the home temple, beside it, or on the pooja-room door. It usually carries the family name, a deity's name, or a short sacred word or mantra, often paired with a symbol like Om or a Kalash.

People add one for simple, honest reasons:

  • To mark the space as sacred. A name plate visually sets the mandir apart from ordinary furniture and signals "this is our prayer space".
  • To carry the family identity. A "Parivar" plate (the family surname) is a common housewarming and Griha Pravesh touch.
  • To invite auspiciousness. Words like "Shubh Labh" or "Om" are placed at thresholds and prayer spaces as a traditional blessing for the home.
  • As a gift. Engraved plates are popular gifts for weddings, new homes and Diwali.
A note on terms: "mandir name plate", "temple name board" and "pooja name plate" all describe the same thing — a small plaque for a home temple. A "name plate" for the main front door of the house is a slightly different product (the house entrance), though many families match the two in the same style.

2. What to write on it (with examples)

There is no single rule — it comes down to what your family wants the space to say. These are the most common choices:

Family nameThe surname followed by "Parivar" (family). The most common choice for a home mandir.
Deity nameThe name of your Ishta Devta (chosen deity) or family deity — for example Ganesh, Krishna, Lakshmi, Shiva.
A short sacred word"Om", "Shubh Labh", "Shree" or "Swastik" — brief, auspicious, and works in any home.
A devotional line"Jai Shri Krishna", "Jai Shri Ram", "Har Har Mahadev" or "Sai Ram", matched to your faith.
A mantraThe Gayatri Mantra, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, or a single line of one. Best kept short so it stays legible.
Name + symbolA family name with an Om or Kalash beside it — the most popular combined design.

Worked examples you can adapt:

  • ॐ  ·  Sharma Parivar
  • Shubh  ·  (Ganesh figure)  ·  Labh — the classic doorway pair
  • Jai Shri Krishna with a small lotus or flute motif
  • Om Gan Ganpataye Namah for a Ganesh-centred mandir
  • Mehta Nivas (Mehta residence) — when the same plate also greets guests
A respectful tip: if you engrave a full deity name or mantra in Devanagari, double-check the spelling and the spacing before it is cut — an engraving error is permanent. For Sanskrit text, it is worth showing the proof to someone who reads Devanagari well.

3. Temple symbols and their meanings

One of the most common searches is simply "what is the symbol of a temple". There isn't one single symbol — several are used, each with its own meaning. The most recognised across Hindu homes and temples:

Symbol Meaning (in brief)
ॐ
Om / Aum 		The most sacred sound and symbol in Hinduism, considered the primordial sound from which creation arises. Chanted at the start and end of prayers. The single most common symbol on mandir name plates.
卐
Swastik 		From Sanskrit su (good) and asti (to exist) — a symbol of well-being, good fortune and auspiciousness. Marked at thresholds and on yantras before worship. (This is the ancient Indian symbol of prosperity, distinct in meaning and orientation from later misuse.)
Kalash A pot with a coconut and mango leaves, symbolising abundance, wisdom and the vessel of life. A frequent housewarming and pooja motif.
Diya The oil lamp — light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and the invitation of divine presence. Central to daily prayer and to Diwali.
Trishul The trident of Lord Shiva. Its three prongs are read as creation–preservation–destruction, or will–knowledge–action. Used on Shiva-centred mandirs.
Lotus Purity and spiritual growth — it rises clean and beautiful from muddy water. The seat of several deities, including Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Meanings above are summarised from widely published sources (Wikipedia, Hindu temple and Vedic references — see the note at the foot of the page). Symbolism has variations across traditions; where your family or sampradaya follows a specific interpretation, follow that.

4. Materials compared

The right material depends on where the plate will sit (indoor mandir vs an outdoor-facing door), your budget, and the look you want.

Material Best for Notes
Brass A traditional, sacred look Warm golden finish, long-lasting, takes fine engraving. Needs occasional polishing to keep its shine.
Wood Warm, classic pooja-room decor Beautiful with carved or golden Hindi text. Best kept indoors and away from damp.
Acrylic Modern look, low budget Lightweight, colourful, easy to mount, weather-resistant. Less premium up close than brass or stone.
Marble A stone, temple-like feel Classic and heavy. Can chip at edges and stain over time if not sealed.
Corian (solid surface) Matching a Corian mandir; a seamless modern finish Non-porous, doesn't chip or stain like marble, holds fine carving and Devanagari detail, and can be made to match a Corian temple exactly.
If your home temple is itself made of Corian, a matching Corian name plate gives the cleanest, most seamless result — same material, same colour, no visible joins. If it is a wooden or marble mandir, a brass or wooden plate usually suits it better.

5. Size and placement

A mandir name plate is meant to be read at a glance, not to dominate the mandir. A few practical guides:

  • Size: for a home mandir, roughly 6–12 inches wide is typical for a name plate above the temple; a pooja-room door plate can be a little larger. Keep the text large enough to read from a step or two away.
  • Position: centred above the mandir, or on the pooja-room door at about eye level. It should sit above the deities, never below them.
  • Legibility: fewer words read better. A family name with one symbol almost always looks cleaner than a crowded plate.
Vastu note: as with the mandir itself, the auspicious directions for a pooja space and its door are North and East. If the name plate is on a pooja-room door, that door ideally faces North or East. The plate does not change the Vastu of the room — placement of the mandir matters far more. For the full direction guide, see mandir direction as per Vastu.

6. Design styles

Traditional engravedDevanagari text with a temple arch (gopuram), bells or a Kalash border. Pairs naturally with brass and wood.
Minimal modernA clean surname and a single Om in one colour. Suits Corian and acrylic, and matches contemporary flats.
BacklitAn acrylic or Corian plate with soft LED behind it, so the name or Om glows gently — popular with backlit Corian mandirs.
Carved reliefRaised lettering and motifs cut into the surface, giving depth. Works in wood, marble and Corian.

Frequently asked questions

What should be written on a mandir name plate?
Most people write the family name followed by "Parivar" (for example "Sharma Parivar"), a deity's name, or a short sacred word such as "Om", "Shubh Labh" or "Jai Shri Krishna". A name paired with a small symbol like Om or a Kalash is the most popular combined design. Keep it short so it stays easy to read.
What is the symbol of a temple?
There isn't a single one. The most recognised Hindu temple symbols are Om (ॐ), the Swastik, the Kalash (pot), the Diya (lamp), the Trishul (Shiva's trident) and the lotus. Om is the most commonly used on home mandir name plates.
What does "Shubh Labh" mean?
"Shubh" means auspiciousness or goodness and "Labh" means gain or profit. Together they invoke blessings of prosperity. In tradition they are linked to Lord Ganesha, and the pair is often placed at the entrance of a home, pooja room or shop.
Where should a mandir name plate be placed as per Vastu?
On a North or East-facing wall or pooja-room door, positioned above the deities rather than below them. The direction of the mandir itself matters more than the plate; see our mandir direction guide for the full Vastu detail.
Which material is best for a temple name plate?
Brass and wood suit a traditional pooja room; acrylic is a budget-friendly modern option; Corian and marble give a stone-like premium finish. If your home temple is made of Corian, a matching Corian plate gives the most seamless result.
What size should a home mandir name plate be?
Around 6–12 inches wide is typical for a plate above a home mandir, with a pooja-room door plate a little larger. The key is that the text is readable from a step or two away without crowding the mandir.

Want a name plate that matches your home temple?

We're Satguru Creations — a Mumbai Corian mandir manufacturer since 1975. We custom-make Corian mandirs and can engrave a matching name plate with your family name, deity name or chosen mantra, in a finish that blends seamlessly with the temple.

→ Estimate your mandir cost  ·  Browse Corian mandir designs  ·  Talk to our team

Sources & further reading: Wikipedia (Swastika, Trishula), Hindu Temple Nottingham (Symbols), Vedic Vaani, The Daily Jagran and other widely-published Hindu-symbolism references for symbol meanings; live retail listings (Amazon, Flipkart, brass and Corian name-plate makers) for materials and common engravings. Symbol meanings are summarised respectfully for general guidance; interpretations vary across traditions, so please follow your own family or sampradaya practice where it gives specific direction.

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